1099 Jerusalem is taken by Christian soldiers during the First Crusade.

1118 To defend Christian pilgrims making their way to the Holy Land, Hugues de Payens and eight knights founded the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon (later called the Knights Templar).

1129 At the Council of Troyes, the Catholic Church legally recognized the Knights Templar.

1139 A papal bull published by Pope Innocent II grants the Templars a number of advantages, such as tax exemption and exclusive reporting to the pope.

12th and 13th centuries As the Templars spread over Europe and the Holy Land, they developed a strong banking system and gained notoriety as a Crusade military force.

1191 During the Third Crusade, the Templar Knights aid in the reoccupation of Acre, a crucial Crusader bastion.

14th to the 18th century According to rumors, the Templars persisted in their covert activities, influencing organizations such as the Freemasons.

18th and 21st centuries contemporary groups appropriated the Knights Templar name and insignia, despite the lack of historical evidence linking them to the original order.